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Brother Ape - On the Other Side : : |
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Band/Artist
Brother Ape
Title:
On the Other Side
Released
Dec 13, 2005
Label
ProgRock Records |
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Track
listing:
1 The Jerk
2 Waiting for the Sandman
3 I freak out
4 Railways
5 Clockworks
6 This hour
7 Unaccomplished
8 Farewell song
9 Lucky fool
10 On the other side |
: : The Players : :
Stefan Vocals, Guitars | Max Drums, Percussion | Gurra Bass, Keyboards,
Vocals | Peter Keyboards, Lead Vocals |
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: : On the
Other Side : :
Originally recorded in Sweden during 2002/2003
(with the exception of the title track which recorded as presented on
this CD back in 1992) what you have here is a nice blend of extremely
accessible music that stands as another example of the great music that
continues to come from those wonderful Scandinavian countries.
The music is not overly complex but is also no simple three cord rock
and roll progression. Also the songs are not some artificial attempt at
prog by throwing in excessive mellotron or similar “prog rock” clichés.
Just straight ahead prog sounding music in a strong melodic format. You
do have the interesting keyboard flashes and some rather tasteful bass
guitar work.
Another strong part of this entire CD is the vocal harmonies. Seems
these guys have taken a page out of the song book of bands like The
Eagles, Spock’s Beard, even some of the Flower Kings. Not that any of
their songs “sound” like any of those three bands but you do get some
“feel” of those bands.
 Lyrically
these guys also have fun and do not take themselves too seriously but at
the same time have much to say about the music business. The opening
track “The Jerk” is all about what some people will do to get a deal,
how far they will go to sell out their ideals just to be the next “big
thing”. One of the telling lines in this song goes “So now you are hip,
For one year or two, You are like a monkey in the money machine.” I’m
sure my musician friends who have really tried to do the music thing can
appreciate their point.
Then they write a song
like “I Freak Out” which on the surface appears to be a smack at life in
general but upon closer review seems to address the gap between the push
and need to always be cool and the reality that being cool ain’t as
important as real life.
Of course the dark part of the song is the telling line, “Hey, seen a
lot of misery in the playground, I’m about to make a strike, You pushed
me to the limit man, so I have to cross that line, I Freak Out”. Draw
your own conclusions.
“Clockworks” is a song about our struggle to hurry up all the while
wanting to stay young. This is an up paced little ditty that does get
the old toe tapping as they riff through an engaging song with some
really excellent harmonies.
All in all this is a very good CD. No great musical revelations here but
great music to hear none the less.
Rating: 7.5 of 10
Reviewed By: Stephen Ellis
: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :
: : Discography : :
On The Other Side |
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